Sujit Choudhry Explains How The U.S. Democracy Could Be UNder Threat

Professor Sujit Choudhry recently published a new book chapter entitled, “A Disintegrating Democracy” published by the Oxford University Press (works.bepress.com). Professor Choudhry bases his new chapter of a Tweet from former Obama Administration Attorney General Eric Holder who discussed the possible options open to the public should President Trump make the decision to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller who has been investigating possible Trump campaign links to Russia.

Although any firing of Mueller would not be seen as causing an instant kneejerk reaction by Congress, Holder himself described it as an “absolute red line” which should result in public action to remove the Trump administration. The Tweet went on to state peaceful demonstrations should be used to bring pressure to bear on the U.S. Government to take action against the President for his actions which would be seen as similar to those of President Nixon during the so-called “Saturday Night Massacre”.

As an expert in the democratic and constitutional events in developing nations, Professor Choudhry has dissected the Tweet and looked at how it compares to similar events taking place across the world. Perhaps the most direct parallel can be found in South Africa where President Zuma was at risk of impeachment and a myriad of court cases and new laws were created to handle the situation. Sujit Choudhry explains his personal view of the travel ban introduced by President Trump at the start of his Presidency as a symbol of a possible autocracy which could be established should the ban on Muslim travelers be extended any further. For additional article, click law.nyu.edu.

Sujit Choudhry and Holder do agree on the idea of public demonstrations being used to push U.S. lawmakers to impeach or at least debate the possibility of impeachment as a positive idea. In essence, the firing of Special Counsel Robert Mueller would legitimize any planned demonstrations against the Presidency and provide a platform to allow the American public to be seen and heard in a peaceful manner against what could then be described as a Government controlled to the whims of one individual.